The heavens are now seen to resemble a luxuriant garden, which contains the greatest variety of productions, in different flourishing beds.
William HerschelThe difference of the degrees in which the individuals of a great community enjoy the good things of life has been a theme of declaration and discontent in all ages.
William HerschelWe see it [the as-yet unseen, probable new planet, Neptune] as Columbus saw America from the coast of Spain. Its movements have been felt, trembling along the far-reaching line of our analysis with a certainty hardly inferior to that of ocular demonstration.
William HerschelThat planet has a considerable but moderate atmosphere. So that the inhabitants probably enjoy a situation in many respects similar to ours.
William Herschel... finding that in [the Moon] there is a provision of light and heat; also in appearance, a soil proper for habitation fully as good as ours, if not perhaps better who can say that it is not extremely probable, nay beyond doubt, that there must be inhabitants on the Moon of some kind or other?
William Herschel